It is with extreme thanks to Chris Baird of Arizona Wrecks.com that we have scanned copies of FBI records from the investigation of Flight 23 (known as Trip 23 in those days).
Please follow this link for his summary of the very lengthy and dry findings.
http://arizonawrecks.com/wrecksfromtonymireles/boeing247nc13304page2.html
Chris has been instrumental in obtaining these documents that persisting with archivists and officials to get them.
It would seem that the FBI could only come up with possible scenarios as to who or why the Boeing 247 was brought down out of the sky to an untimely end. Much of the focus centered around passenger Emil Smith and his associations at the time.
The 1930s were quite a different era and it is plausible that any number of criminal or illegal persons and/or activities could have brought the plane down.
Is there an exact location as to where the plane went down? I'm aware that it was on the Smiley Farm, but is there anything more specific?
ReplyDeleteAs per details on www.arizonawrecks.com (which is an excerpt from the FBI files) the following location is available (although no precise co-ordinates are known). Found Inverted In Downed Trees On Indiana Farm: NC13304 crashed in Jackson Township one and one-half miles north of Jackson Center in Northeast Porter County at about 9PM. On the farm of James Smiley. Between Indiana State Hwy 6 and 49 along the old grade of the LaPorte Division of the Chicago Air Lines (abandoned 9 years previous) just north of Jackson Center High School. The explosion occurred over the field owned by Frank Yagetski just south of the old airline railroad right-of-way on the west side of the Jackson Center Road and about a mile north of the Community Hall. It struck the ground just east of the road and south of the old railroad grade on the land owned by Joseph Brown and leased by James Smiley. It hit trees, knocked them over, and wrapped around them. The plane was hauled away the next day by a junk dealer from Hobart.
ReplyDeleteFBI Gives Detailed Directions: Per the FBI report the wreck could be reached by travelling north on Hwy 49 out of Valparaiso and turning right onto Hwy 6. Drive approximately 2 miles east on Hwy 6 to Beverly Hills and turn right on a dirt road heading north which leads to the scene about 1 mile north of Hwy 6 (did they mean turn left?). The main wreck was located on the east side of the gravel road and immediately on the south side of the La Porte-Valparaiso Air Line. The beacon lights are located on this air line at intervals of 5 miles to guide aircraft travelling east and west by the La Porte-Valparaiso Air Line. The tail section was in a plowed field west of the road. The main wreck was just 100 yards southeast of the home of Joe Graf. A Mrs. Maude Tillotson’s home was approximately 100 yards west of where Burris’ body was found (and near the empennage).
I wrote the first comment. Thank you. I will look at a plat of Jackson Twp and see if I can locate some of the residents names listed above. I know where the Brown/Smiley Farm is located. Thank you again.
ReplyDeleteLooking at a 1938 plat of Jackson Twp, the present day location should be in the area of a 1/4 mile north of the Toll Road and on the east side of 400 East. Mr. Graff's house was on the west side of 400 East and it's stated that the wreck was 100 yards east. Probably in the fields east of the frontage properties on the east side of 400 East... Has anyone gone out there with metal detectors and scanned the area? I was recently informed that a gentlemen had been in the area of the crash site, and talked with someone regarding the crash.
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ReplyDeleteHi as far as I'm aware only Bryan Alaspa has been anywhere near the site to ask questions as per his book "Sabotage" but there are also unconfirmed reports that a professor I think it was from a university was interested in the crash. It's all rather sketchy and I haven't really had any direct communications with anybody except Chris Baird from www.arizonawrecks.com. I can't speak much for Mr Alaspa's book as I haven't read it but I'll find out about this professor fellow.
ReplyDeleteI was told the gentleman had Purdue University license plates on his vehicle...
DeleteThe other person writing an article was Professor Owen V. Johnson, School of Journalism from Indiana University. Apparently the article was written with Ernie Pyle ion mind who was an aviation correspondent during the 20s and 30s. I think Prof. Johnson may have been to the site but the only person I can with any certainty who has gone there would be Bryan Alaspa.
ReplyDeleteThe guy I'm speaking of was here within the last two weeks.
DeleteI was on 1000 North a couple of weeks ago in January and spoke to a fellow who lived on the North side of 1000 North. I was driving a silver Cobalt and live in Hobart, Indiana. I must have spoke to you. Can you confirm? My name is Rick.
DeleteThis is Rick from Hobart again. I re-read your response and I have a Purdue plate on my Cobalt. It was great meeting you that day. I am glad you checked out the information on the cash. E-mail: Richard_Vulpitta@Cable.Comcast.Com / on Facebook under Rick Vulpitta. I hope we can get together. Thanks, Rick
DeleteHi Rick, I sent you an email.
DeleteThat is quite mysterious then. I haven't a clue who that could be. As I say I'm only aware of Bryan Alaspa or Prof Johnson. It's quite possible that there's renewed interest in the crash as it's come to the fore a bit more in recent times with Alaspa's book and potentially this blog. I'll ask Chris Baird if he knows of anyone else who's been in contact about this recently. I'll remember to mention Purdue U.
ReplyDeleteOk. I believe that I live on the property where the main section of the plane was located...
ReplyDeleteWow - do you have the precise co-ordinates of this? Also if you don't mind my asking I assume when you moved to that property that you weren't told the history or is it something that's well known locally? Or something totally forgotten...?
ReplyDeleteThis is for Anonymous who lives on the land where the main part of the plane crashed - see my response above to your questions. When you have a chance contct me. Thanks, Rick Vulpitta
ReplyDeleteHi,I sent you e-mails this morning. Rick
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